Why You Should Exfoliate Before You Cleanse

Most skin care lines will have you cleansing first, exfoliating second, and then moisturizing and sunblocking to top things off. But celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, creator of the unique, step-reversing Skin Revival system, says that exfoliating at the beginning might get you better results.

"If you are thinking about the top layer of the skin, with all the pollution and debris, if you just use a cleanser first, the majority of that debris is not removed," he explains. That's why he advises using a polish first to blast the skin's surface. "The polish ingredients are linked directly to prime the skin for the cleansing step. Then there is a epidermis that is ready to soak up the nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals," he adds. And that's when the nourish—aka hydrating—step comes into play. It's a method that goes against the status quo, but next time you're standing over the bathroom sink, give it a try. You might just become a cleansing-second convert.